Christmas 2008

Campesino Christmas

That peace on Earth fills up your time,
That brotherhood surrounds you.
That you may know the warmth of love,
And wrap it all around you”
By Pam Wheeler

Dear Family and Friends,

As we look back on the year and look ahead to the next, we are heartened by the steps and strides of loved ones. Marsha finished her Master’s in entomology, married Andrew Magis in August, and they moved into their new house in Illinois. Both are enrolled in Ph.D. programs.

Pamela reoriented her career in microbiology and started course work in Cincinnati where she is finding success. Grace graduated with honors and entered Penn State medical school in Hershey.

When Gloria and I look back, we remember the great number of mission teams and study tours turning up on our doorsteps in Honduras from January through July. There were communities achieving new dreams and partners honing new skills. We enjoyed sharing our stories with many churches in the United States during our five months of itineration.  We return to Honduras on January 1 for a four-year term of continued service and new challenges.

We are looking forward to the coming year and all that it will bring our way. Most of all, we will be happy to accompany and walk alongside people who are working so hard to improve their lives, building up their communities, and putting their faith into action on a daily basis.

Gloria’s father, who lived with us for close to 30 years, bid his farewell in Gloria’s arms on November 21 at the age of 96. We feel happy and blessed to have had him with us for so many years.

May the peace and goodwill of the season last throughout a special New Year for you.

Oh, come, Desire of nations,
bind In one the hearts of all humankind;
Oh, bid our sad divisions cease,
And be yourself our King of Peace.

Merry Christmas,

Tim and Gloria Wheeler

The 2009 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p.281